Kiyoko Sato Dekker Obituary
Kiyoko Dekker, age 90 of the Zealand died peacefully on Tuesday, April 23, 2019, at Heritage Rehabilitation Center. Kiyoko was born in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan by her Samurai descendants parents Misao and Shizu Sato. A fifth generation Christian in Japan, she attended Keisen Christian School for Girls where she learned English and heard speakers such as Hellen Keller, Corrie Ten Boom, and General MacArthur. At 21 she came to the United States and studied at UCLA before she married Norman Dekker, a Korean War soldier who met her at an orphanage in Japan as Kiyoko was a translator for American soldiers who volunteered their time to the orphanage.
She worked for Devres and Dornbos as a seamstress and also worked for Herman Miller as a Japanese translator and retired there in 1992. She is survived by her children, Dr. Anthony Dekker and his wife, Dr. Patricia Roe, Kiyoi and Jim Craig, Dan and Brenda Dekker, Melody and Jim Carter, John Dekker and Tina Dekker. Her grandchildren: Dr. Michael Dekker and his wife Dr. Raysenia James, Dr. Joseph Dekker and his wife Theresa Fung, Caitlin Dekker, Charlie and Stephanie Craig, Ted Craig, Ben Craig, Betsy Craig, Joshua and Emily Dekker, Jenna and Jeremy Wilson, Jeffrey Carter, Stephen Carter, Kailyn and Preston Black, and Alisha Dekker. Her great grandchildren: Kenzo and Emiko Dekker, Abraham and Peter Craig, Opal and Rose Dekker, Evan and Oliver Wilson, and Isabelle Carter. Her brothers and sisters: Sadako Ueki and Satoru Sato. Brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Glen Carr, Gordon Dekker, Dave and Vonnie Dekker, Sheryle Matteson, Bob and Voncile Dekker, Janice and Bob Melton, Phyllis and Jim Looman, Tom Dekker, Laurie and Roy Campau, and Stan and Vince Holmes. A memorial service will be held on August 16, 2019.
